An Air India flight going from Delhi to Mumbai had to return to Delhi airport shortly after take-off in the early hours of Monday (22 December). During the flight, a serious drop in oil pressure was observed in the right engine of the aircraft, following which the pilots decided to make an immediate return as per standard safety procedures. Due to this quick decision, no untoward incident occurred and all passengers and crew remained safe.
Flight number AI887, operated by Air India’s Boeing 777-337 ER aircraft, took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport at 3:20 am. Shortly after takeoff, the pilots in the cockpit noticed abnormally low oil pressure in the right engine, identified as Engine No. 2. Within a few moments, the oil pressure dropped to zero, creating a very serious situation in terms of aviation safety.
Technically, engine oil pressure reaching zero is a major danger, as oil is necessary to keep engine parts cool and running smoothly. Insufficient oil pressure can cause the engine to overheat rapidly and, in severe cases, result in engine failure or even fire.
Air India confirmed the incident and said that the flight crew followed the prescribed safety protocol after receiving a warning in the engine parameters. “On December 22, the crew operating flight AI887 from Delhi to Mumbai decided to return to Delhi due to a technical issue shortly after take-off as per standard operating procedure. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi and all passengers and crew disembarked normally,” an airline spokesperson said.
According to Air India, the necessary technical check of the aircraft in question is being done and it will be re-inducted into service only after meeting all the standards.
The airline said the ground staff at Delhi airport provided immediate assistance to the affected passengers and alternate flights were arranged to take them to Mumbai. “Air India regrets the inconvenience caused by this unexpected situation. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” the spokesperson said.
Let us tell you that just a few days ago, an Air India Express flight going to Visakhapatnam had to be canceled at Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada on the night of 18th December due to a technical fault related to the engine. The flight was carrying several prominent passengers, including former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister K Atchennaidu and senior YSRCP leader B Satyanarayana.
According to Vijayawada Airport Director Laxmikant Reddy, the problem was detected while the plane was taxiing, after which it was brought back to the bay at around 8:30 pm. Air India Express also said at the time that the flight was canceled in the interest of safety and passengers were accommodated in hotels, with free rescheduling options.
Although both Air India and Air India Express have reiterated that all decisions were taken keeping in mind the safety of passengers, these recurring incidents have once again put the focus on aircraft maintenance and operational checks amid the busy travel season.
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